Electric vapor-lamp.



.No. 831,400. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.-

H. I. WOOD.

ELECTRIC VAPOR LAMP.

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fig. 2.

Witnesss. I H Invgrztg/r: d

4 zm A m a I I I Ifltt'y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

HOWARD I. WOOD, OF SCHENECTIADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANLA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC VAPOR-LAMP- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application lied July 21, 1002- Serlal Io. 110,403.

To all whom it mn-y concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD I. Wool), a citizen of the United States, reaidin at Schenectad county of Schenectady, btatc of New Yori, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Vaporhamps, of which the following is a specification.

The invention which I have hereinafter described and claimed relates to improvements in electric lamps of the ty in which electric energy is converted into. ight by the passage of an electric current through mat-- tcr in the form of a vapor or gas.

My invention consists in certain improvei-nents' in the lamp and in the means for startin the are, to be more particularly pointe out in the claims.

Figure l shows one form of my invention, and Fig. 2 shows a modified form. Figs. 3 aml 4 are detail views of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. p

In Fig. l a lamp embodying my invention is shown, in which 1 represents a substantially vertical vacuum-tube of somewhat indefinite length, as indicated by the dotted lines at 2. A quantity of mercury 3, formin the cathodeterminal of the lamp, is placed m the bottom of a tube in direct contact with the sealed-in terminal 4. This terminal 4, which is preferably made of platinum wire, passes throu 'n the walls of the tube and is connected to the negative main 6 by the line 5. A main switch 7 is shown, by which the line '5 ma be opened or closed. The main anode o the lamp consists of a hell or bottle shaped mass 8 of iron, carbon, silicon, raphite, or other suitable material, profcrab yiron or graph- I itc, which is suspended from the top of the toextend throu bout a considera tube by the sealed-in platinum- WIN 9, to which it is directly attached. A small conductor,consistin of a carbon filament or red 10,mayii'e hung rem the anode 8 if desired,

ble portion iis filament is held in a cenby means of the of thetube. tral position in the tube cross arms 11 of carbon filament, which are "secured to the main filament by means of carbon aste or'in any other suitable manner. T \ese (.I'OBtI-ttl'lllfl 11 are staggered with respect to one a. other so as to sustain the central filament from all'sides. While I have shown and described a carbon filament,

. any suitable substance, such as graphite or the graphite and carbon, ma be employed for the rod or cross-arms, am of course it is not essential that the cross-arms be of the same material as the rod 10 or of the shape shown. I have found, however, that a carbon filament with carbon cross-arms secured by carbon paste to be very satisfactory. The leading-in wire 9 is connected to the positive main 13 by the line 12. 14 represents an electromagnet, part of the winding of which is furnished by coils in the line 12. The line 12 also furnishes the coils for the solenoid 15, which operates the electromagnetic switch 16. The switch 16 is located in the line 17, which connects the main 13 to the sealed-in platinum wire 18. The line 17 is also coiled several times around the core of the electroniagnct 14. The )latinum wire 18 passes three '11 the wall oi the tube 1 and extends into t in tube a short distance, the end within the tube being bent,ns clearl shown in Fig. 3, to forma horizontal journa 19,0n which a bar or arm 20 is pivotally mounted. Suitable washers or enlargements 19 are providcd to retain the bar .20 in proper position on the journal 19. This arm 20 is formed with an enlargement intermediate itsends,

aml in this enlargement 22 a hole 22' is formed, which makes the bearing for the joumal 10. The arm .30 is made of some conducting substance, ireferably platinum and carries at one end the auxilia .termina 21, which consists of a ball or bul et shaped mass of iron, carbon, silicon, graphite,-or

other suitable material, preferably iron or terminal 21 and the counterweight 23will easily clear the wall of thetube 1 when the arm 20 is' in a horizontal position. The wire 18 is located above the surface of the mercury 3 at a distance somewhat less than the length of theterminal-carrying end of the arm 20, so that in its normal condition the I terl'nirial 21 :estson the surface of the mer cury, with the arm '20 somewhat mclined to A nmss of iron or other magvertical, though the degree of the angle s immaterial.

netic material 24 is placed on the rod 20 near the terminal 21. The electroma net 14, hereinbefore referred to, is mountec close to the wall of the tube 1 and in a plane some-' of such strength an what above the surface of the mercury in a tract the mass 24 and lift the arm into a position substantiallyhorizontall Adjustable resistances 25 and 26 are located in the lines 12 and l7, respectively. f

The operatsoa 0; my device is as follows: On closing the main switch 7- current passes from the main 13 by way of line 17 through the resistance 26, thmu the closed switch 16, around the career eiectromagnet 14, through the leading-in wire 18, arm 20, mencsry 3, tmminal 4, and line'5 back to the man s. This current energiaes the electromagnet -14, attracts the mass of iron 24, and thus'naises the arm 20 to a hmiscntal posita'on. Asthe terminal 21 leaves the surface of themercury an arc is started, and the seep cury-vapor is put into aconducting condition by means'of this are, so that current will, nam io s? 3 v atw is o atad. 'Ihe for the currcm betw ez n' the main terminals is traced as follows: from main 13 through Ups variable resistanoe 2e, switch-coil 15, winding of the electnoraa H, ieading-in wire 9, anode 8, throug the mercury-vapor fromthe anode 8 to li uid mercury. 3, leadin-in wire 4, line 5 to negative main 6. be presence of the filament 10'seems to enable the arc to form more readily between the ma n termimale of the lamp. The action apparentl is one in which the conducting vapor irst reaches the end of the filament and then flows along the same by virtue of its conduct ing-os'other ua'lit until it reaches the anode.

The use of his ill ament is particularly advantageous in long tubes. -The passage of current through the windings 15 operates to en the switch 16, and thus disestabl-ishes circuit through the line 17. Thebar 20 is retained, however" in its elwated or horisontal poation by '30 magnet 14, which is menergiaul by-the currentpassing through n a; desirable some terminal 2i -be line '12. The passage of the current through the mummy-vapor creates the light desired,

which is continued as long as the-current raised from the surface of the mercury while the lamp is in operation, as when in contact with the mercury it is sub'ect -to local hosting and causes disturbances iii the arc between t' e main terminals, probabl due to the tact that when heated it'gi eso gasesconta-ined within it and also is volatilised to a certain extent or at least creates some detriz'nemal actions.

InFig. 2 I have shown asls'ghtly nodified form of my invention. In this form the tube 1 is wed in position substantially horizonta a cu ha enlargement or recess being iormed o n t e lower side of the tube at the end opposite the anodeu This enlarge mentor recess contains the li uid mercur The leading-in wire 4 is passe thrcu h to wall of the tube-at the bottom of the epression. In this form the auxiliary leading-in wire 18' enters the tube from the top and is curved, as shown in Fig. 4. 'Ihe arm 20' is mounted thereon as the arm 20 is nmunted on the wire 18 in the other form. A tensinal2l,simiiar to 21,is mounted on one end of the arm 20, but-the massof magnetic material 2e is placed sat the opposite end of the bar fromfliat carrying the Mimi-e121. In this form a separate counterweight can in 'P sedwith-as themass of iron general be d" 24 is so located and proportioned as to fen-n a !proper counterweight tor the terminal 21'. '1 so arm 20' is connected tothe wire 18"s'n the same manner 'as the :arm '20 is connected to the wire 18, this being cleasiyshowsi in Fig.4. Tbeelectr ltisioeatedtothe rightoi' theeisdoftbstabe,asshowni.n Fig.2,

and is inclined about forty degreesto the horizon, with its upper end adjacent to the-glass and at an elevation about midway between the level of the mercury and the pimtal point of the arm )0. Aes'hown, the arm 20' turns in a vertical plane passing throu the axis of the tube. The magnet 14' is a so located in this plane, though of course it is to be understood that the exact location and pro.

porticnintg of these parts and construction may ievaried somewhat uithoutdeparting from 3' i vention. The opemtion of this form .w" l be readily understood from its description and the description of the operation 0 the preceding form.

Some of the troubles experienced in the construction and operation of this type of lamp arises from the dril'uzulty in obtaining and maintaining the extremely high vacuum which is necessary to the successful open tion of the lamp. The introduction within the vacuum-tube of any solid material, such as the arc-atartin .tlcvicen unmade from, is attended with t e evil that they contain gases within them or upon their sin-hoes which .are not readily removed, but which tend to he released during the commercial Y olpenationof the temp. Hence it is desirable t at these devices be of as little mass and as,

compact as possible and that tney -rbe made from substances which contain but small quantitiesof gas within them or upon their mirfaces land which .do not ive oil-gas in the generationofthe llsmp. y arrangemcntof a pivot-ed auxilisryterminal for useas a starting device, particu y when constructed from the materials oified, possesses tln-isc' characteristics in a lngh-degrce.

0 It will readil understood that in some instances I may is use with the counterweight 23 and that may employ a separate electrom at for each of the circuits 12 and 17 instea of the single electromagnet 14, which I have shown.

Other changes of form and proportion are within thesco e of'my invention, and I do notintend to limited to the exact form shown. I

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isl. The combination with the inclcsing envelo of a vapor-lamp, of main terminals, an auxi iary terminal in contact with one of the mainterminals when the lamp is. inoperative,

means for sedparating the last-named terminals operate by the current passing between them, and meansfor holding them separated,

operated by the current passing between the main terminals.

2. The combination with the inclosi envelo of a vapor-lamp, of a main termina an aux: ia terminal in contact with the main termina when thelampis inoperative, means for separating the terminals to start an arc,

and separate meansfor maintaining the separation of the terminals. e

3. In a lamp of the character described, movable means for starting an are, means for moving said starting means, and means independent of said operating means for 'maintaini said starting means in the position to which it has been moved.

4. The combination with the inclosing cnpositioning cross-arms.

6. The combination with the inclosing envelop of a vapor-lamp, of a carbon filament provided with positioning carbon cross-arms.

7. The combination with the inclosing envelop of avapor-lamp, of a conducting rod or filament attached to the envelop at one end and provided with positioning cross-arms intermediate its ends.

8. The combination with the inclosingenvelop of a vapor-lamp, of a conducting rod or filament provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of positioning cross-arms staggered with respect to one another. I

9. In 'a lamp of the'character described, the combination of a va orizable main terminal and a pivoted auxi iary terminal adjncont thereto and, provided with a counterweight.

10. The combination with the inclosing envelop of a va or-lamp, of a conducting rod or filament, an positioning devices carried by the rod or filament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of July, 1902.

' HOWARD WOOD. Witnesses:

Bnmsnm B. HULL, Mano/mar E. Wootaar. 

